Korean language test

Need candidates with solid Korean proficiency? Ensure they can communicate confidently and fluently in most professional situations and write with structure and detail across various subjects.

TestGorilla’s Korean B2 (Upper Intermediate) test helps you assess candidates’ Korean skills and find the person with the necessary language skills for the job.

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Why test Korean proficiency?

Assessing candidates' language proficiency helps your business:

Hire clear communicators: Independently verify candidates’ Korean skills (rather than relying on resume claims) to ensure you hire people with the required proficiency.
Build stronger teams: Create teams with the necessary language skills to collaborate more effectively.
Reduce misunderstandings: Improve productivity and build a stronger brand by avoiding miscommunications between Korean-speaking colleagues, partners, and clients.
Assess skills objectively: Measure and compare candidates’ proficiency against consistent benchmarks with standardized Korean language tests.

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When to use the Korean proficiency test

You can benefit from using Korean language assessments when you’re:

Hiring talent to serve in Korean-speaking customer support or client-facing roles as you expand into the Korean market
Looking for marketing professionals to develop campaigns for your Korean or Korean-speaking market segments
Shortlisting project managers to work on cross-border projects with Korea-based teams, investors, and stakeholders
Recruiting expats or foreign nationals to work in your Seoul office

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Measuring Korean proficiency across levels

The Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) is a globally accepted standard used to measure and compare language proficiency fairly. It grades language speakers based on six ability levels.

Here’s what Korean language learners can do at each level:

A1 (Beginner)

Understand and communicate basic words and phrases. Learn the Korean alphabet. Join simple interactions, like introducing themselves or describing where they live.

A2 (Elementary)

Use sentences and expressions related to daily life activities. Manage simple conversations on familiar topics and describe basic personal information. Use basic honorifics.

Explore the A2 language level

B1 (Intermediate)

Communicate effectively in day-to-day situations and on familiar topics. Discuss personal experiences, opinions, and plans. Use more advanced honorifics. Write simple texts on familiar or individual issues.

Explore the B1 language level

B2 (Upper Intermediate)

Comprehend the main points of complex writing. Converse relatively easily with native Korean speakers and write about different topics. Describe the pros and cons of situations.

Explore the B2 language level

C1 (Advanced)

Understand complex and lengthy Korean texts, including their hidden meanings. Speak with a high level of fluency and spontaneity. Communicate across various professional, social, and academic contexts, using advanced honorifics.

Explore the C1 language level

C2 (Proficient)

Express themselves in Korean fluently, spontaneously, and with a high degree of nuance. Understand almost everything they read or hear. Produce complex texts that organize ideas and concepts into clear and logical structures. Explore the C2 language level

Key skills assessed in the Korean proficiency test

With TestGorilla’s Korean B2 language test, you can assess candidates across key language skills:

Vocabulary and grammar: Their ability to use appropriate Korean vocabulary and grammar in the workplace and adjust their tone, language, honorifics, and style depending on the context
Sentence structure: How well they express themselves precisely, accurately, and fluently in Korean in professional and social situations
Reading comprehension: Their ability to understand written Korean, including formal documents, emails, and non-work-related texts
Aural comprehension: How well they can confidently converse in Korean, including with native speakers

What roles require Korean proficiency?

Here are examples of roles requiring a Korean B2 proficiency:

International student advisor

A B2 level is required for helping Korean students adjust to unfamiliar academic and social environments without getting lost in translation.

Logistics coordinator

At least a B2 level is needed for ensuring smooth imports and exports with Korea, handling intermediate negotiations with Korean partners, and understanding key concepts in import and export documents.

Market research analyst

With a B2 level, analysts can read and interpret Korean-language surveys, news, and social media.

Paralegal

Paralegals should have B2 proficiency for dealing with Korean clients, legal research, and simpler non-certified translations.

Hire advanced Korean language speakers

Korean B2 (Upper Intermediate)

This Korean B2 (Upper Intermediate) test evaluates a candidate’s knowledge of Korean at the B2 level of the CEFR framework. This test will help you hire employees who can use Korean professionally and personally to speak, write, read and listen.

10 min

Details

Designed and reviewed by Korean experts

TestGorilla’s Korean language proficiency test is designed by a Korean linguistic expert. All our tests undergo rigorous peer review.

image of the subject-matter expert for this test

A certified Korean language teacher and native speaker, Hyeon develops and reviews Korean educational materials, including textbooks and assessments. Having studied English, Japanese, and Spanish, Hyeon understands the challenges language learners face.

Korean language test FAQs

Yes. We use the CEFR so you can assess and compare candidates against a globally recognized scale. Plus, you can combine our language tests with cognitive ability and other skills testing for deeper insights into applicants than a standalone language certification provides. Read about how Gardenvity used TestGorilla’s assessments to evaluate candidates’ language skills and improve its hiring process.

Understanding Korean honorifics (social hierarchies) is essential to professional communication. It’s a show of respect to someone older or higher in the social hierarchy, like a CEO. Failing to use them properly in professional settings can be seen as disrespectful, undermining effective communication.

Korean learners generally start recognizing and using basic honorifics at the A2 level. Advanced learners (at the C1 and C2 levels) use a wide range of honorifics consistently and accurately.

Yes. We use the CEFR so you can assess and compare candidates against a globally recognized scale. Plus, you can combine our language tests with cognitive ability and other skills testing for deeper insights into applicants than a standalone language certification provides. Read about how Gardenvity used TestGorilla’s assessments to evaluate candidates’ language skills and improve its hiring process.

Understanding Korean honorifics (social hierarchies) is essential to professional communication. It’s a show of respect to someone older or higher in the social hierarchy, like a CEO. Failing to use them properly in professional settings can be seen as disrespectful, undermining effective communication.

Korean learners generally start recognizing and using basic honorifics at the A2 level. Advanced learners (at the C1 and C2 levels) use a wide range of honorifics consistently and accurately.

Get started with Korean testing

Want to find out how strong your candidates’ Korean language skills are? Use our Korean language test and combine it with cognitive ability, culture, job-specific, and other tests to build an assessment that offers 360-degree insights into each candidate.

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